I don't know how this will turn out, but I like to noodle around with stuff in the garden. Over several years, I've had reasonably good luck with alliums (leeks and spring onions especially) so I decided I would try my hand with shallots. Shallot seed at local gaarden centers was unavailable, and the mesh bags of bulbils (or whatever they are) looked crappy with funky and soft material. It was too late to order seed (and I wanted Zebrune), so I decided to wait for next year and use this year to experiment.

Down to the local supermarket I went, plunged my paw into the shallot bin, and grabbed a half dozen small shallots (like fifty cents worth). Potted these little guys up and -- lo and behold -- in a few days almost all had sprouted greenery. In fact, each of the five that sprouted produced several leaf clusters. So far so good.

So: what should I expect? Have they produced bulbils (or cloves?) of their own, as I suspect? Should I wait to see if they bolt, although I understand few shallots bolt? Their leaves have not flopped over or started to brown yet. If they don't bolt, should I just yank them and use the bulbils as planting stock? Plant in fall, say early October, like garlic, or in the spring?

What do you think will happen? What advice would you give?